Boulders plunge off popular Utah waterfall, barely missing family swimming below
Several large rocks and boulders plunged from the overhang at the top of a popular Utah waterfall — and just barely missed a family swimming below, video shows.
Visitors to Lower Calf Creek Falls, a popular hiking and swimming destination in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, should be aware that the rocks can fall from the cliff without warning and can cause serious injury or death, the Bureau of Land Management said in a June 25 news release.
The visitors were filming their family members as they played in the water when the boulders crashed into the shallow water between them and the shore, the video shows. They had just dunked their heads under the water and resurfaced as the rocks rained down into the pool.
“Because of the overhang at the top of the cliff, rocks can land a substantial distance away from the base of the cliff, including in the water pool area and onto the shoreline,” the release says. “No one was harmed during this incident, though there have been injuries in the past. Anyone swimming or recreating on the beach should remain alert.”
Bureau of Land Management geologists will work with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office to assess whether the area is safe for visitors, officials said. The agencies worked together on a similar study last year after a falling rock hit a visitor who had to be evacuated by medical helicopter.
The agencies will determine how to move forward based on recommendations from the previous assessment, officials said.
“We are working hard to assess the situation and figure out how to reduce the risk,” Ade Nelson, manager of the national monument, said in the release. “Outdoor recreation can be inherently unpredictable. This is not a backyard swimming pool, but rather a remote and natural place. Lower Calf Creek Falls is a world-famous destination, and we want to make sure everyone understands the risks when they visit.”
A 6-mile round-trip trail along Calf Creek takes hikers to the base of the 126-foot waterfall, officials said. Sandy sections can make the hike moderately difficult, and the hike can be hot, especially during the summer.
It’s important for hikers to carry adequate water, officials said. Those who want to avoid the falls but still want to swim can do so at an alternative water play area at the campground and day-use area.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Boulders plunge off popular Utah waterfall, barely missing family swimming below."
